Attaining a healthy weight range linked to lower risk of type 1 diabetes progression

From medicalxpress.com

A Baylor College of Medicine-led team found that moving into a normal weight range was associated with about half the risk of progressing to clinical type 1 diabetes (T1D), particularly in youth. This observational study, published in Diabetes Care, was conducted in individuals with early signs of type 1 diabetes.

"T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, called islets of Langerhans," said first and corresponding author Dr. María Redondo, professor of paediatrics in diabetes and endocrinology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. "Without insulin, cells in the body cannot use sugar circulating in the blood for energy, which can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening complication, and potentially death if untreated. Over the long term, T1D can also increase the risk of complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels."

Redondo and her colleagues examined whether, among individuals with overweight or obesity who were already at increased risk for T1D, subsequent normalization of body mass index (BMI, measured as weight relative to height) was associated with a different risk of progression to clinical T1D.

                                                    Graphical Abstract. Credit: Diabetes Care (2026). DOI: 10.2337/dc26-083

Major advances now allow people at increased risk for T1D to be identified years before symptoms appear and, in some cases, to receive an approved therapy to delay the onset of clinical disease. One way to identify people at risk is by measuring islet autoantibodies in the blood, as they are evidence of the autoimmune process that destroys islet cells. However, despite the advances, outcomes remain suboptimal and additional approaches to delay disease progression are needed.

Previous studies, including some led by Redondo, have linked higher BMI with more rapid progression toward T1D. However, it has been unclear whether subsequent BMI normalization is associated with lower risk of disease progression.

In this study, Redondo and her colleagues studied 833 participants in the TrialNet study, which is focused on preventing T1D. The participants included children and adults who had islet autoantibodies and who were overweight or obese when they entered the study.

"We followed the participants for about 4 years," Redondo said. "In this period, about 27% of participants moved from the overweight or obese range into the normal BMI range. As we had hypothesized, people who achieved a normal BMI had about a 48% lower risk of progressing to clinical T1D compared with those who remained overweight or obese."

The association was most evident in children and adolescents. The strongest associations were seen in boys younger than 12 years and girls ages 12–17. In adults, however, BMI normalization was not clearly associated with lower risk of progression to T1D. The researchers are investigating factors that may explain this difference.

Since this is an observational study, the findings do not establish that lowering BMI will prevent or delay T1D. "Our study shows an association, not causation," Redondo said. "The findings provide a strong rationale for a prospective intervention trial to determine whether intentionally promoting a healthy BMI trajectory can alter progression of T1D." Importantly, in children, reaching a normal BMI range does not necessarily mean losing weight; it can also happen when weight gain slows or stabilizes as the child grows taller.

Other contributors to this work include Raquel Gupta, Alejandro F. Siller, Sridevi Devaraj and Ashok Balasubramanyam at Baylor College of Medicine. David Cuthbertson and Kendra Vehik are with University of South Florida, and Heba M. Ismail is with Indiana University.

Publication details

Maria J. Redondo et al, BMI Normalization Is Associated With Lower Risk of Progression to Type 1 Diabetes, Primarily in Youth, Diabetes Care (2026). DOI: 10.2337/dc26-0833

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-healthy-weight-range-linked-diabetes.html#google_vignette 

Recipe: Smoked Salmon and Greek Yogurt Omelette

From diabetesfoodhub.org

How to Make Smoked Salmon and Greek Yogurt Omelette

This elegant omelette pairs silky smoked salmon with creamy Greek yogurt and fresh dill for a protein-rich, satisfying start to the day. It’s a smart breakfast option for those watching their blood glucose (blood sugar), thanks to its low carbohydrate content and balanced protein. 

10 min prep time   15 min cook time   4 servings

Nutrition facts

4 Servings

• Serving Size
  1 omelette

• Amount per servingCalories160

• % Daily value*
• Total Fat 8g10%
  • Saturated Fat 2g10%
  • Trans Fats 0g
• Cholesterol 210mg70%
• Sodium 280mg12%
• Total Carbohydrate 2g<1%
  • Dietary Fiber 0g0%
  • Total Sugars 2g
  • Added Sugars 0g0%
• Protein 20g
• Potassium 242mg5%

Ingredients

eggs

4 large

egg whites

1/2 cup

1% milk

1/4 cup

salt

1/4 tsp

black pepper

1/4 tsp

olive oil

1 tbsp

cold smoked salmon (low sodium, chopped)

2 oz

Plain Non-fat Greek yogurt

1/4 cup

fresh dill (chopped, plus more for garnish)

1 tbsp

red onion (thinly sliced)

1/2 small

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, egg whites, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. 

2. Heat the olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Pour ¼ of the egg mixture into the skillet, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook until the edges start to set, about 2 minutes. 

3. Add ¼ of the smoked salmon, a dollop of Greek yogurt, fresh dill, and red onion to one side of the omelette. 

4. Carefully fold the omelette over the filling and cook for 30 seconds to warm through. 

5. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining ingredients. 

https://diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/smoked-salmon-and-greek-yogurt-omelet

Diabetes prevention starts as early as conception, experts say

From kcl.ac.uk

Preventing type 2 diabetes could require action much earlier in life, according to experts calling for a new approach to protecting metabolic health 

A new perspective article in Nature Medicine, led by Andreas Birkenfeld, Medical Director of the Department of Internal Medicine IV at University Hospital Tübingen and Transcampus Professor of Diabetes at King’s College London, argues that preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D) should move beyond waiting until people develop abnormal blood glucose levels and instead focus on maintaining healthy metabolism throughout life.

Around 90–95% of people living with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which develops through a complex combination of genetic, biological, environmental and lifestyle factors. While current prevention approaches often focus on people who have already developed prediabetes, the authors argue that this may miss opportunities to intervene earlier.

The researchers propose a life-course approach that recognises T2D as a gradual process, with metabolic changes accumulating over many years before the disease develops. They suggest that prevention should focus on identifying periods when people are more metabolically vulnerable and providing targeted support to preserve or restore metabolic health.

The paper brings together an international group of experts who identified ten priorities for improving diabetes prevention. These include redesigning screening approaches across the life course, recognising differences between individuals, developing clearer stages of disease progression and ensuring prevention strategies are accessible across different socioeconomic settings.

The authors argue that, rather than focusing only on preventing progression to diabetes, a key goal should be prediabetes remission, which means restoring and maintaining normal blood glucose levels (normoglycaemia).

The researchers also highlight that diabetes risk is not constant throughout life. Instead, there are periods when people may be more susceptible to metabolic changes. The first opportunity for prevention may begin before conception. Evidence suggests that the metabolic health of both parents, including factors such as obesity, may influence a child’s future metabolic health.

Pregnancy is another important window. During pregnancy, the body naturally becomes more resistant to insulin to support the developing baby. Some women are unable to compensate for this increased demand and develop gestational diabetes. Women who experience gestational diabetes have a substantially increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, making the period after pregnancy an important opportunity to monitor metabolic health.

The authors also highlight childhood and adolescence as important stages for protecting metabolic health. Increasing sedentary behaviours, including prolonged screen time, alongside changes in diet and activity levels, may contribute to future diabetes risk.

Later life stages, including midlife and menopause, represent further periods of increased vulnerability. For women, changes in hormone levels during menopause can contribute to changes in body composition and metabolism, which may increase diabetes risk.

We think it is no longer sufficient to wait until someone has prediabetes or diabetes before taking action. We need to recognise the stages of life when people are more metabolically vulnerable and use these as opportunities to tailor prevention and protect metabolic health.

Professor Andreas Birkenfeld, Medical Director at University Hospital Tübingen and Transcampus Professor of Diabetes at King’s College London

The article suggests that prevention should become more personalised, using information such as family history, changes in weight over time, pregnancy-related diabetes and emerging biomarkers to better understand an individual’s risk. The authors also call for future prevention research to look beyond blood glucose measurements alone and consider wider health outcomes, including cardiovascular and kidney health.

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/diabetes-prevention-starts-as-early-as-conception-experts-say